Groping in India is nothing new. Nothing has changed since the Delhi gang-rape, no securities have been provided in Delhi or any other metros in India. Women continue to get groped on India’s public transport.
The way they do it is by deliberately touching body parts and pretending that it is an accident in the crowd. The most common parts where women are likely to be touched are the bottom and the breasts.
In western nations; when someone sits on the seat next to you, they will try not to touch you at all. But in India, it’s completely opposite. When a man with bad intent sits next to you, they will cosy up to you and deliberately touch you. In these circumstances, you will need to shout at the man to stop touching you. There are good people all around and many will want to help you.
Many of these men do it on purpose as they know that they can get away with it without being caught as the victim do not raise any voice against them for the fear of reprisal. Plus in a male dominated society as India’s, it’s usually the woman who gets the blame.
Watch some of these videos and you will get an idea about the plight of women being groped in Delhi the capital of India. Women travelling to India either alone or in groups are advised not to travel on public transport particularly the busses in Delhi and Mumbai.
It’s not just the buses; women are groped in broad daylight especially in crowded places. I remember once when I was about 15 years old, I was walking in narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk – it seemed as if every man who passed by wanted to touch me. In one incident when I was only 11 years old I was at the Railway station in Patna, a man came up to me, touched me and ran away. Incredible it may sound; this is ground reality of India. You might wish to read about the sexual harassment of Michaela Cross, a 23 year old American student on a study trip to India. Sometimes, you wonder if Indian men are the worst types of men on the planet.
My advice to those women travelling to India alone or otherwise MUST not get on these public transports. I rarely use these buses anymore. Hire an auto-rickshaw or a taxi and sit on the back seat. Always stay on the side of the road where you can see the traffic and the people coming towards you so you can keep a tab on things happening around you. There is a chapter on how to deal with groping in my book “India travel survival guide for women” if you really wanted to travel on these public transport.
Recently I watched a movie called Limitless starring the gorgeous Bradley Cooper and I thought that it great. The story shows Eddie (Bradley Cooper) as a struggling New York writer unable to make any inroads in his writing career. On day, he meets his sister’s ex-boyfriend who tells him that he is dealing in this medicine called NZT-48 that allows one to use their brain to full capacity. The boyfriend gives him a complementary sample pill. As Eddie walks backs to this flat he takes the pill. Something happened to his brain and he was fully able to use his brain to the max. While still under the influence he wrote an excellent novel that his publisher loved.
But then the effect of the drug ran out and he went to see his sister’s ex-boyfriend so that he could get some more. But while he was there in the flat some people from the underworld comes looking for these smart pills and kills the dealer. Eddie escapes but finds the hidden stack of the NZT-48 pills which he takes and walks away after calling the police.
He starts using these pills! He realized that he is able to use the pill to remember and recall past experiences and events, has great powers to deduce information, learn and analyze, do advance mathematics and have increased eye-hand coordination. The story continues showing that he uses his brain to full capacity and confidence with the aid of the pills and becomes very rich.
I read about this amazing smart drug. I found that the way NZT works is by increasing norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission. It also elevates receptivity and synaptic transmission in certain parts of the brains particularly between the hippocampus, the amygdale and the striatum. This causes improved brain function, hand-eye coordination and muscle memory and reduce the need for rest i.e. sleep.
I wanted to see if there was anything like this smart drug legally available in the market. I discovered that there are a few “smart drugs” available that makes you utilize your brain to the max. Guess what I have some news for you!!
I have found a pill similar to NZT-48. And it’s not coffee pills!
It’s a medicine available in India and many parts of the world. Please don’t get me wrong! I am not a druggie or anything, I just happened to see the movie Limitless and thought it was a brilliant movie and whether a smart drug NZT existed or not.
I discovered Modafinil – Made in India
I searched the internet and found a few smart drugs. The one drug that caught my eye was called Modafinil (manufactured by Sun Pharmaceutical Ltd) a prescription drug used for narcolepsy and sleep apnea. I walked into the numerous pharmacies in my area and asked for modafinil. Many of them said they didn’t have any. I was losing hope! I thought modafinil was some kind of internet scam and no such smart drug existed. I thought I will make one more attempt. So I walked in this medicine shop and I asked for modafinil. The chemist nodded his head and gives me a strip of modafinil and told me it was 200 mg. I bought a couple of strips. It cost me about 100 Rupees (1.5 U.S. dollars). I had no idea why I bought and what I was going to do with it but went back home with it.
Anyway at home I searched online for Modafinil…
Here’s some basic information on Modafinil and what it does.
Sleep disorders are very common amongst adults. There are some sleep disorders that make it hard for people to get to sleep and there are other disorders that make it hard for people to stay awake. The difficulty of staying awake is usually brought on by disorders like narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that occurs when your brain cannot regulate your body’s sleep cycles. As for sleep apnea, this is a condition where your upper airways are obstructed, which causes the person to have difficulty breathing in their sleep. People are usually unaware that they have this condition because they are asleep when it happens. But what it ends up doing is it causes them to feel sleepy during the day. Then they’ll have trouble staying awake when they are at work or school. Sometimes people who work varying shifts at their jobs will also have problems with wakefulness as well. Fortunately, there is a drug called “modafinil” that can improve wakefulness in those who have these kinds of sleep disorders.
Modafinil is a drug that promotes wakefulness. Nobody really knows exactly how it works but what scientists have concluded is that the chemicals in the drug have a way of disrupting the dopamine neurotransmitters of the brain. This disruption causes a person to become restless when they would normally want to go to sleep. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration gave their approval to using modafinil to treat patients suffering from narcolepsy. In 2003, the FDA gave further approval to use modafinil for treating patients with sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. Modafinil can only be obtained through a doctor’s prescription. There are a number of medical conditions and other medications which can negatively interact with modafinil. That is why the drug is not recommended if you are pregnant, currently taking prescription medication, suffer from allergies or are suffering from an illness or disability. A doctor is the only one that will be able to determine if modafinil is safe for you to take or not.
Most prescription drugs have side effects to them and modafinil is no exception. One positive side effect that patients have experienced is an improvement of their short-term memory. This likely gets improved because their newfound wakefulness allows them to concentrate and remember things better. However, there are a lot more negative side effects that come along with this drug. Some of the most common negative side effects are headaches, nausea, anxiety, and nervousness. These side effects won’t necessarily need medical attention because you can treat them with over-the-counter drugs. But make sure you let your doctor know about which over-the-counter pain relievers you are taking because they could still interfere with the modafinil. There are also some less common side effects that you may experience from this drug which includes dry mouth, skin redness, vomiting, heartburn, muscle stiffness, runny nose, high blood pressure, diarrhea, and insomnia. Again, these side effects won’t occur in most people but if they occur in you then you’ll need to see a doctor right away.
If you are going to take the risk developing these symptoms then you should take modafinil in situations where you absolutely have to stay awake. For example, many nations throughout the world are issuing modafinil to their troops as a way to keep them awake on important missions. As you may know, many soldiers go on missions where they develop sleep deprivation because they have no time to go to sleep. This makes them drowsy and unable to focus completely on their mission. In a military setting, soldiers have to be focused at all times or else it could cost them or their comrades their lives. Therefore, modafinil has been issued to troops as a way to help them stay awake and alert. In the United States, the drug has only been issued by the Air Force to airmen who are flying jets or doing something else which requires all of their cognitive functions to be on full blast. It is not a commonly prescribed drug in the military, though, because of the side effects. That is why it is only used for critical or covert missions.
I did more research on modafinil and guess what it’s a widely used smart drug…
As I read more about this smart drug, I got to know that in recent years, modafinil has been used as a smart drug by lot of people from all walks of life. Those who want a type of drug that enhances a person’s cognitive function so they can concentrate and focus better. I also read that the US military uses it during combat situations. Like previously mentioned, modafinil has been found to improve people’s short term memory and help them focus more. So what a lot of people are doing now is taking modafinil without a prescription just so they can get these cognitive benefits. This is what is known as “off-label” prescription use, which is illegal to do. The majority of the people using modafinil for this purpose are students in college. We all know that students have a lot of stress with their job and schoolwork. When it comes time for them to study for an exam, they usually pull all-nighters and try to remember as much information as they can in a short amount of time. Modafinil is used as a way to help them do this. But since doctors won’t prescribe modafinil as a cognitive enhancer, these college students usually end up purchasing it on the streets or through some foreign pharmaceutical company over the internet.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of dangers in taking pharmaceutical drugs like modafinil without a prescription. People who don’t have their health evaluated by a doctor first are putting themselves at great risk if they take modafinil. These risks go far beyond the normal side effects of taking the drug. The severe side effects you could experience includes blood in the urine, chest pains, irregular heartbeats, kidney problems, shortness of breath, yellow skin, yellow eyes, and increased weakness and tiredness. Yes, that’s right you could actually become more tired from a drug that is supposed to keep you awake. So if you are using modafinil as a smart drug then you are putting your health and overall comfort level at great risk.
Fortunately, modafinil is not an addictive drug like so many other pharmaceutical drugs on the market. Even though its biochemical mechanisms are very similar to many addictive stimulants, there have been few reports of people getting addicted or dependent on modafinil. The only time people get addicted to modafinil is if they overdose on it every day in order to sustain their enhanced cognitive function and wakefulness. Otherwise, the withdrawal symptoms of modafinil are basically insomnia and anxiety. You should be able to deal with those without too much trouble, especially if you’ve experienced those side effects while taking the drug.
Modafinil can be obtained under the brand names Provigil, Alertec, and Modavigil. Different countries have certain restrictions on the drug. In the United States, its availability is restricted because of its potential to be addictive. This is why it is deemed a schedule IV controlled substance in the United States. However, most other countries don’t legally restrict it nor do they consider it a controlled substance. It is merely a prescription drug you can get like any other prescription drug. Regardless of where you live or what your intended use of it is, you should always ask your doctor if modafinil is suitable for you to take. If not, you could suffer dire consequences.
Here’s my modafinil experience
If you are wondering if I tried modafinil or not then YES I did 🙂
Modafinil with chai
One morning I thought I must try this. After reading on many papers and publication I came to conclusion that it was a genuine drug used in India and widely available in many parts of the world then it has to be safe. One morning after having a cup of my morning tea (chai)I decided to have a pill. After having one nothing happened for half an hour. I was getting really disappointed at this stage. But some tingling sensation started. I lost track of time. I had no idea what the time was, I just kept on doing things without taking a break. I was in my most productive self.
As far as I am aware you are allowed to import and even modafinil to the USA and UK. This means that you can buy them in India and take it your country. You can even buy modafinil online. But you need to be careful when buying modafinil on the net. You could be buying fake medicines or something different altogether. But I strongly suggest you think twice about using it. Everyone is different; it could have adverse effect on you. Best advised stay on coffee.
Modafinil side effects
Here’s a list of side effects of modafinil from a reputed website.
So you have it. If you don’t need it, don’t try it. Talk to a doctor if you need modafinil.
I am not saying you come to India to buy modafinil or buy modafinil online. This article was for information only. I don’t think I would be using this medicine. However, I will continue to do some reading about it. If you do take modafinil, could you share your thoughts here please?
Medical disclaimer:
This article is for information and entertainment only. I am not a doctor or pharmacist so any information here on Modafinil cannot be relied upon. No liability will be assumed for the use of this article. Anything you do is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Initially when I started my travel blog it was hosted on HostGator on shared hosting plan. It went well like my other websites but one day, they sent me an email (this is about 3 years ago) that they had temporarily removed my website from their shared hosting as it was taking a lot of resources. They will put it back if I do a few things hence I must message them if I wanted the site up. I sent them a message asking them what I had to do get the website up and running. They messaged me back a few things that I had to remove a plugin and had to add a caching plugin. After I had done all that, my site was up.
However I knew that I had to move my web hosting before I could do anything!
I contacted a few blogger friends and one of them was able add my website to her dedicated hosting. The hosting went well (for about 1.5 years) till a few weeks ago. She told me the site had grown and was not able to continue hosting my blog.
I then went into panic mode and looked for alternative hosting. I knew that it had to be minimum a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or at least a reseller.
I went on the web and searched and read website hosting reviews for hours and hours. I had helped a few of my friends set up their blogs. I had bought their hosting on eBay some of which was from the UK. I contacted the UK based company (which I had bought on eBay) and they were happy to give me a “managed” VPS for that included the following below.
4 CPU Cores 4 GB Ram 80GB Diskspace 80GB 2000GB Bandwidth and a fully managed cPanel
The price looked appropriate and cheaper than the bigger names. They responded quickly to all my questions and I thought that I had found my hosting.
I went and bought it after giving it a thought for at least 1 week.
They migrated the site and everything looked alight for 10 days and then things went pear shaped.
The website was down for hours and when I contacted them many times they kept asking me what I was hosting on the website. They fact is that they could not handle the website. I kept getting emails in my inbox that they server was configured properly and had failed.
The final straw was when my website was down for one entire day and when I messaged the hosting company, they had no idea what was going on and they rebooted the server. That didn’t bring the site up…
I have grudges against this company. In fact, I have a couple of small websites hosted on their servers. They staff had been appropriately responded to my questions, it’s just that they were not able to host my website which they didn’t want to admit.
I knew that it was time for me to find another web hosting company. Someone from Facebook ground recommended SiteGround.
I then spent an hour reading their website, SiteGround hosting reviews and comparisons. For example this one, Siteground vs Hostgator. A lot of people had written good reviews about them.
I talked to one of their staff via their chat. They told me the kind of hosting was needed and was assured that the site would be migrated to their hosting.
I then bought the WordPress hosting plan (their higher plan). I didn’t even have to send them the ticket. As soon as I signed up, there was a question asking me if I needed to transfer anything to their servers. If yes then I should complete a form which I did straight away.
Funny thing is that the previous hosting sever was down and I had no access to the cPanel. Luckily I had a copy of the complete backup. I sent SiteGound the copy.
Guess what…
After competition of the website migration form, I got a message from SiteGound in about 30 minutes that the website had been transferred and all I had to do was change the Domain Name Servers (DNS).
Which I did ASAP…
I checked after 4 hours later and the site was up…
SiteGround WordPress Review
Let’s take a look at what SiteGround actually offers…
Geeky SuperCacher- their own cacher plugin rather than the usual ones making your website faster.
Free Cloudflare CDN makes your website load faster in any part of the world by caching its content and distributing it over multiple data centers. When foreign visitors access your website, our CDN delivers the content much faster from the data center closest to them.
And a host of other things and support…!!
So all in all, I have am very satirised with SiteGround. I highly recommend considering their services if you have a travel WordPress website and want to save yourself a agony. Click here to find out more about SiteGround.
If you are an animal lover then it might be best you avoided India altogether because some of the things you might see on the Indian roads will break your heart. I want to point out to some of the atrocities inflicted on the ox. If you are travelling to the rural areas of India, you are bound to encounter the ox cart (called bullock-cart in India) used mainly for agricultural purposes. It’s not just the farmers who use these animals; it’s used extensively in urban areas too mainly for transportation.
The ox is much sought and prized animal in India to do the things exactly as seen in the photos. In the cities, it is used for transportation, while in the rural area it is used to plough the land not to mention that it is a source of cattle dung for fuel.
The reasons for the survival of the ox cart in India is due to the fact that many farmers in India are poor and it does not require hard-to-get petroleum based high-priced fuels and the lack of decent roads in many areas of rural India. I remember my grandfathers’ village in Monger district of Bihar state it still does not have paved roads. You need an SUV (we call it jeep in India) to get there or one of these bullock carts.
These oxen have to go through a lot. Take a look at this photo, where the load is lighter, the ox may look a little skinny but seems to be fine but unfortunately in the second photo, it really breaks the heart.
The trouble is that the life of an Indian labourer is sadly not much different to an animal either. If the sweltering heat, or the congested streets, narrow lanes, wandering cows, crowded bazaars, cycle rickshaws or Indian traffic does not slap you in the face than scenes like these will certainly hit you hard almost like a full smack in the face. Try to stumble into any back alley or street in any Indian town and you’ll soon stumble into an India of grinding hard work. The old man seen in the picture pulling below seems to be struggling.
The brutality inflicted on these animals causes disease especially cancer of the neck that significantly reduces their life span then they end up in the slaughter houses.
Just as the horse wagons in America were eliminated in the USA, don’t you just wish that these carts too were eliminated from India?
It’s not a pretty site. This abuse of bullocks is in direct violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. But no one cares in this country. There are no human rights to speak off let alone animal rights. The only thing some people care about is protecting the cow and preventing people from eating beef.
I wonder how many of these animals are often deprived of food and water too?
Kanchipuram is also known by the names Conjeeveram, Kanjeevaram and Kanchi is a small town situated at a distance of 75 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram is famous for the cotton and silk industry and imposing centuries old temples which has earned it fame as Varanasi of South India. It is one of seven major pilgrimage centres for Hindus believed to give salvation to the devotees who visit them and worship the deities in the numerous temples of the city. At one time the city was known to be an abode of more than 1000 temples, but at present more than 100 have survived including some amazing churches and mosques.
The city had earned its importance as the capital of Pallava’s from 4th-10th century. Gradually the town became a learning center which was visited by Buddhists, Jains and Saivite Hindus; though today the Jain and Buddhist temples have become extinct, leaving only archaeological remains behind.
Kanchipuram Silk Sarees
Kanchipuram is known for its unique silk and cotton saris which are hand woven by weavers who have learned the trade from their ancestors who settled here nearly 400 years ago. Kanchipuram silk and cotton saris is ranked among the best in India, which has also got it the name as ‘Silk City of India’. The handloom saris are often woven by the threads of pure silk in vivid vibrant colors; in addition they are decorated with bright gold and silver threads called zari. Everyday thousands of competent and talented weavers work on handlooms, producing dazzling silk saris that are sought by people for weddings and special occasions.
The raw materials for production is imported from different towns, as the occupation is only to weave the sari’s, therefore they are not involved in cultivation or production of silk threads. Three single pure mulberry silk threads are entwined to form the threads of Kanchipuram silk which gives it’s attractive texture, with lustrous look and finish, in addition to being very durable if certain maintenance rules are followed.
The designs are created by the zari which is produced by interweaving silk, silver and gold threads. When combined with vibrant colors of every hue, the amazing decorations fashioned with the zari create designs that leave people spell bound. Though expensive, the famed sari’s last long enough that at times they are known to passed down to generations. Here’s how to wear sarees.
Kanchipuram Temples
Ekambareswarar Temple
The 11 storey Shiva Temple is one of tallest temples, which spreads over 20 acres of land while its tall southern tower soars to a height of 58.5m. Devotees throng to worship the Linga in the temple throughout the year. One of the most amazing attractions of the place is an ancient mango tree which bears four different leaves and also four different varieties of mangoes though it shares the same bough. The four branches are known to represent four Vedas.
Kailashnath Temple
This temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. Build in limestone, the temple is abode to amazing art of Fresco style paintings and sculptures which has been well preserved even to this day. The temple is situated far from the busy commotion of the city, other than the day of Shivaratri when devotes have to wait in long queues to just get a glimpse of the deity.
Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple
This temple is dedicated to goddess Shakti which is one of three important temples of the goddess in India. The temple is also famous for its golden tower and chariot.
List of other important temples in Kanchipuram
Vardaraja Perumal Temple
Ulagalandar Temple
Vaikunta Perumal Temple
Kacchapaeswarar Temple
Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple
Jain Temples at Tirupparuthikkundram
Subramaniya Swami Temple]
Around Kanchipuram
For those who have time to look around, apart from Chennai, there is Mammalapuram, which is host to art of Pallavas, Muttukkadu lake which has facilities for boating and wind surfing, Covelong beach which is excellent place to enjoy good swim along with wind surfing. It has a good resort for stay. The place is also famous for an ancient Dargah and church. Situated at the distance of 48 km from Kanchipuram, the water bird sanctuary is visited by birds like storks, flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, swans and many other birds which are not commonly sighted in India. The best time to visit is during October to March, when many migrant birds can be seen.
Getting There
The nearest airport and major city is the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, which is well connected to Kanchipuram by well maintained roads. The town also has a railway station, so that those interested to travel by train can opt for it. You can get around the town walking small distances, or hiring an auto rickshaw or Taxi for convenience.
One of the quickest ways to get a visa for India is to apply for an e-tourist visa (electronic tourist visa). You do not need any travel agent and you can do this yourself. All you need to do is apply for the e visa online and wait for it to come via email. The idea is simple; you apply for an electronic visa for India online, print out the application form, post it, the Indian consulate will email you the Indian e-visa, you print it out and hand it at the desk on arrival in India. It can take as little as 1 day to a maximum to 4 days (Monday to Friday) and you can stay 30 days from the date of arrival. It’s valid for a single entry.
It’s not like the traditional visa where it is stamped to your passport. You need to hand this to the immigration desk when you land in India. When you arrive in India the immigration desk will stamp your passport. This is a single entry visa. If you need to apply for multiple entries then you will have to apply on the same website but need to present or send your passport for stamping. However in the January of 2016 it was announced that the multiple entries will also become available and e tourist visa holders will receive a gift pack on arrival to India (you will find out the options when you start applying). But I do not think it has been implemented yet.
If you are a citizen of the UK or the USA then you can apply for the Indian tourist e-visa. 149 other countries have also been added to the list eligible to apply for the Indian e-Tourist visa. This visa allows tourists to enter India through 16 international airports namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Chennai (Madras), Cochin, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata (Calcutta), Lucknow, Mumbai, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum and Varanasi.
The Government of India visa website does specify certain criteria and if you do it currently it will take only a few days to get your e-visa. Basically you should not apply for the e-visa no later than 4 days prior to going to India and 34 days before the date of arrival in India. You can apply for e visa 2 times in 1 calendar year.
In a nutshell e-visas are for tourists visiting India for recreational purposes, short visits like visiting relatives, business or medical treatment etc. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 moths and you should have already bought your tickets and should have enough money to spend in India.
Upload your photo and a copy of your passport (this means you will need a printer and scanner. You can either take your passport to place where they will scan your passport and email it to you or simply you can buy a printer and scanner)
You can then pay your e-visa fees
Don’t forget to insert your email address as your e tourist visa for India will be sent to your email
Wait for your e visa to arrive (don’t forget to check your spam folders)
Print it out and take it to India.
Tourist Indian e visa application process
Notes:
E visa India contact number and email address
Your Indian high commissions or consulates do not have control over Indian e-tourists visas so if you need to ask them anything about these visas they wouldn’t know. If you need any clarification or if any doubt, then you will need to send an email to indiatvoa@gov.in or you can phone them on this number +91-11-24300666.
e visa photo requirements
The e visa India photo size is not the usual passport size photos.
It should be 2 x 2 inch (50 x 50 mm). The background should be plain. The chin to crown (basically the entire head) should cover 1 to 1-3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm).
Must in JPEG format and size of Image should be minimum 10 KB and maximum 300 KB You can check your parameters of your image by right clicking on the photo and then clicking properties. If you photo is big you can downsize the image by reducing the size.
Basically it’s a square photo. Many photo booths in superstores are now able to provide these Indian visa photos. If you can’t find a one then you will need to go to a photo studio.
But make sure that the background is white or plain; your head must be in the centre, there should no borders, eyes open, no smiling and no shadows.
e tourist visa cost
Fees for the e tourist visa are around 40 pounds if you apply from the UK and 60 dollars from the USA per passenger. It’s a very cost effective way of applying. It saves you going anywhere (consulate, embassy or even the India visa and consular service application centre called the VSF).
You will need to present return tickets on arrival in India along with your e tourist visa that you received though email so make sure you print a few copies of your e visa.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the northern state of Uttarkhand, Rishikesh is the birthplace of Yoga and therefore, the perfect place for those looking for the peace of mind, body-soul balance and self-discovery. But it is also the place for adventurers and adrenaline seekers. The holy City has plenty to offer and charm different kinds of travelers, and is one of the most visited places in the North of India.
But Rishikesh not only refers to the main town, it also includes the settlements along the banks of the Holy River Ganges –and where you’ll probably spend most of the time-; Muni-ke-Reti, Shivananda Nagar, Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula, home of many popular Ashrams (such as Sivananda, Divine Life Society and Parmath Niketan), temples, Yoga studios and DELICIOUS cafes offering vegetarian meals. Oh yes! By law, this is a Vegetarian City and unlike other ‘party places’ in the Himalayas (A.K.A Manali and Kasol), you shouldn’t expect to find alcohol either; although weed is allowed and consumed openly.
Wise Advice: If you are planning to stay at one of the Ashrams, check out if there is any upcoming festivals and try to book your place in advance! Rishikesh is a very popular destination for tourists and backpackers and the place can be packed pretty soon. But don’t worry too much..! Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula are full of hostels and guest houses from as low as 200 Rs per night! Also, be careful during the Monsoon season (July to August); the heavy rain may lead to serious flooding and the Rafting is also restricted during those months.
There are lots of them around, but here are two that I advice you not to miss: the Tera Manzil and Bootnath Temple. The first one is located in Lakshman Jhula and has 13 floors of little rooms to worship different gods and goddess, as well as shops to buy souvenirs and religious articles. But if you wanna appreciate Rishikesh in all its glory, get ready for a little walk from Ram Jhula and climb up the 11 floors. I promise you WON’T be disappointed!
Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh
This beautiful ritual is one of the most popular activities amongst visitors and is performed at dusk in the three major holy cities of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi at the banks of the Holy Ganga River. Here is held at the Parmath Niketan Ashram,. The religious ritual consists in prayers, chantings and the reading of Vedas by the Gurus and their students. For me, it was a deep and renovating experience.
We were walking around Ram Jhula when we saw a board indicating the way to ‘The Beatles Ashram’ (say whaaat?!!!) and although somebody else had told us about it, we were not expecting to find something like that. In the middle of nowhere! The place was built by the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi, worldwide famous for his Transcendental Meditation methods and seminars all around the globe. Well, it was exactly in one of those where he met The Beatles in 1967 and the guys were so impressed that decided to join him the next year in an intensive course in Rishikesh. The time they spent there is supposed to be one of the most productive periods for the band, and most of the songs they wrote there were recorded in The White Album and Abbey Road.
Despite the fame and glory of the Ashram and its famous visitors (musician, actors and politicians) the place was closed in 1981 and now belongs to the Administration since is located in the lands of the Rajajai National Park. And that’s exactly what makes the place even more interesting; like a huge ghost of stone and bungalows in ruins, beautifully blended with the nature. The main gate is closed and the entrance is ‘prohibited’, but you’ll find a huge hole in the side and run into lots of travelers armed with cameras to capture the beauty of the legendary place. DON’T MISS IT when you go!
Adventure Sports
Trekking, Camping, Rock Climbing, Bungee Jumping and Water Rafting in Rishikesh are the most popular –but not only- activities for the adrenaline junkies. On our trip, my boyfriend and I tried Water Rafting and it was pretty cool! For those used to extreme experiences in the water, it may not be enough since the ride is smooth and not too wavy, but for me (beginner and absolutely terrified of water, strong currents and rocks together) it was the perfect dose of excitement. These activities are not hard to find and not too expensive either. We did a 12 Kilometers ride in 800 Rs per person.
Water rafting in Rishikesh
Rishikesh YOGA Retreat
Ahrams, Yoga Studios and personal teachers offer their services all over town; you can go for a 300 to 500 Rs class or take one of the free lessons offered by some places. We attended a drop-in class at Shri Sant Sewa Ashram and gave a small donation at the end and it was pretty great!
Where to EAT in Rishikesh
With all the walking/rafting/trekking and yoga practice, you may need to refuel a couple of times a day, but that’s not really a problem here! Not either the fact that this is vegetarian city and most of the places don’t even use eggs!!… And well, for this Southamerican girl -we eat LOTS of meat down there- that was one of the most impressive things since the food is SO G-O-O-D! and so diverse too; there are lots of ‘German Bakeries’ and ‘Confectioneries’ all over the area; the one in Devraj Coffee Corner crossing the Lakshman Jhula bridge from the Tera Manzil Temple is to die for! So make sure you don’t miss the delicious Strudels, Apple Pies, Cinnamon Rolls, brownies and the endless list of Indian delicacies, although their Italian dishes are also a must try.
Laxman Jhula
The Indisputably winner, highly recommended by every visitor to Rishikesh should visit is the Little Budhha in Lakshman Jhula; the environment and beautiful view to the Ganges make it an amazing place to chill for hours, but is the delicious food with Indian, Mexican and Israeli options what will make you come back.
